Following Carlos Prates’ decisive victory over former champion Jack Della Maddalena at UFC Perth, Islam Makhachev has voiced his admiration for the Brazilian fighter. Prates is currently on a three-fight winning streak, with all his recent wins coming by way of knockout, including two against former UFC titleholders. This remarkable display of striking prowess has led Makhachev to consider Prates as the most compelling potential opponent for his next outing.
While Makhachev is reportedly slated to defend his welterweight title against Ian Machado Garry in August, Prates has made it clear he aims to challenge the winner later this year. He has publicly stated his support for Garry potentially dethroning Makhachev, setting the stage for a rematch between them. However, the pound-for-pound king is open to facing Prates sooner.
Speaking to Red Corner MMA, Makhachev commented, “There have been a lot of rumors about me fighting Ian Garry next. I haven’t spoken with any UFC officials about this fight, so I can’t say for sure who the next contender is… I think Prates has got the hype right now… A fight with him would be the most interesting.”
The Dagestani fighter also indicated that his next opponent has not yet been finalized, and no contract has been signed. This leaves the door open for various contenders, including Michael Morales, Garry, Kamaru Usman, and Prates, among others, to be considered for his next title defense.
“I’ve got 3–4 other possible matchups,” Makhachev added. “Kamaru Usman is up there, Ian Garry, Morales, and Prates. That’s four of them, plus Shavkat might be number five. They’re all expecting a title shot.”
Islam Makhachev names Carlos Prates as most intriguing next fight
Islam Makhachev expressed his intrigue regarding a potential fight with Carlos Prates, highlighting Prates’ current momentum and impressive performances, particularly his recent knockout victory over Jack Della Maddalena. Makhachev stated that a matchup with Prates would be the “most interesting” at this time, despite ongoing speculation about a fight with Ian Machado Garry.
Islam Makhachev believes a fight with Carlos Prates would be “most interesting”
UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev has identified Carlos Prates as a highly compelling potential opponent. Makhachev was impressed by Prates’ recent performance and current winning streak, marked by three consecutive knockouts. While other contenders like Ian Machado Garry and Kamaru Usman are also in consideration for Makhachev’s next fight, the champion specifically pointed to Prates as generating the most interest for him.